Penguins trade two conditional draft picks, acquire Jeff Carter in trade with L.A. – PensBurgh

Los Angeles Kings winger Jeff Carter is headed to Pittsburgh.

Ahead of the trade deadline, Penguins general manager Ron Hextall is bringing in the 36-year-old forward, a player he is familiar with from his time in Los Angeles, with the two winning a Stanley Cup together in 2012.

The Penguins announced the news in the overnight hours early this morning.

Two conditional draft picks will be going back to Los Angeles, one a third round pick in 2022, and the other a fourth round pick in 2024.

According to Pierre Lebrun, the 2022 3rd round pick can become a 2nd round pick if the Penguins reach the Stanley Cup Final and if Carter plays in at least 50% of the games.

In 40 games this season for the Kings, Carter has racked up 8 goals and also chipped in 11 assists.

Carter is under contract for next season, with one final year remaining on his 11-year contract originally signed with the Flyers in 2010 before being traded to Columbus and then Los Angeles.

The contract brings a $5.27M cap hit, but under the terms of the trade with the Penguins, the Kings have agreed to retain 50% of Carter’s salary.

It’s unclear how quickly Carter will join the team or if he’ll be in the lineup when the Penguins square off with his original team in the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday.